Soil Conditions and Plant Growth

Peter J. Gregory is Chief Executive of East Malling Research and a Professor at the Centre for Food Security, School of Agriculture, Policy & Development, University of Reading. He is also the author of the Wiley-Blackwell-published book, Plant Roots, and co-author of the second edition of Science and the Garden.Stephen Nortcliff is Emeritus Professor at the Soil Research Centre, Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading.

“No doubt it will be bought by many libraries and should be of interest to those intending to specialise in soil science through a Masters course for example.”  (European Journal of Soil Science, 1 October 2013)“The book is a superb foundation for in-depth class discussion. Summing Up: Highly recommended.  Students of all levels, researchers/faculty, and professionals/practitioners.”  (Choice, 1 October 2013)

• Contributors viiiPreface x1 The historical development of studies on soil–plant interactions 1Stephen Nortcliff and Peter J. Gregory1.1 Introduction 11.2 The search for the ‘principle’ of vegetation, 1630–1750 21.3 The search for plant nutrients 41.4 The beginnings of soil microbiology 101.5 The development and application of modern knowledge of soils 13References 202 Plant and crop science 22Sayed Azam-Ali2.1 Introductory principles of resource capture by crops 222.2 Growth and development 232.3 Solar radiation 272.4 Water 322.5 Integrating principles of resource capture by crops 422.6 Conclusion 45References 463 Soil fertility 49Elizabeth A. Stockdale, Keith W.T. Goulding, Timothy S. George, and Daniel V. Murphy3.1 Introduction 493.2 Concepts of soil fertility 503.3 Plant–soil interactions determining soil fertility 573.4 Assessing soil fertility 623.5 Managing soil fertility 72References 794 Soil organic matter 86David Powlson, Pete Smith, and Maria De Nobili4,1 Introduction 864.2 Factors influencing SOM content 884.3 Modelling SOM dynamics 934.4 Chemical structure of SOM as elucidated using new forms of spectroscopy – advances and pitfalls 1004.5 Organo-mineral interactions 1084.6 Fractionation methods for studying SOM 1114.7 The living part of SOM – the soil microbial biomass 1154.8 SOM and soil physical conditions and implications for plant growth 1164.9 Soil C and climate change 120References 1265 Nitrogen and phosphorus cycles and their management 132Phil M. Haygarth, Richard D. Bardgett, and Leo M. Condron5.1 Introduction 1325.2 Sources of nitrogen and phosphorus to soil-plant systems 1345.3 Chemical and biological processes of nutrient cycling, transformations and bioavailability 1375.4 Processes of nitrogen and phosphorus losses from soils 1455.5 Nitrogen and phosphorus use in agricultural systems 1495.6 Future soil nutrient cycles and environmental change 153References 1556 Properties and management of cationic elements for crop growth 160Philip J. White and Duncan J. Greenwood6.1 The movement of essential cationic elements to the root surface 1606.2 Cationic elements in plants 1636.3 The uptake of essential cationic elements from the rhizosphere 1696.4 Cationic elements in the soil solution 1736.5 Management practices increasing the acquisition of essential mineral cations 1806.6 Genetic strategies to improve the efficiency of acquisition and physiological use of essential cationic elements 1836.7 Concluding remarks 186References 1877 Managing adverse soil chemical environments 195Mark E. Hodson and Erica Donner7.1 Potentially toxic metals (PTMs) 1957.2 Salt-affected soils (saline, sodic and saline-sodic soils) 2067.3 Acid and alkaline soils 218References 2288 Managing the soil physical environment for plants 238Paul D. Hallett and A. Glyn Bengough8.1 Introduction 2388.2 Basic physical properties of soil 2388.3 Soil structure 2418.4 Soil tilth and seedbeds 2498.5 Critical soil physical conditions for plant growth 257References 2619 Soil water and its management 269Anne Verhoef and Gregorio Egea9.1 Soil water management – a general overview 2699.2 Key concepts related to water in soil 2709.3 Soil water and plants 2819.4 Determination of soil water balance and related variables 2889.5 Water management to alleviate soil water shortage 2989.6 Water management to alleviate excess water 308References 31210 Plant-induced changes in soil processes and properties 323Philippe Hinsinger10.1 Introduction 32310.2 Roles of plants in carbon cycling: deposition, burial and emission 32410.3 Roles of plants in soil acidification 33510.4 Roles of plants in the weathering of soil minerals 34210.5 Conclusion 353References 35511 Sustainable management of soil and plant health by optimising soil biological function 366Dominic Standing and Ken Killham11.1 Introduction 36611.2 Managing soil and plant health 36811.3 Conclusion 386References 38612 Managing the soil–plant system for the delivery of ecosystem services 390David W. Hopkins and Edward G. Gregorich12.1 Introduction 39012.2 Roles of soils 39412.3 Sustainable soil use and soil quality 40912.4 Concluding remarks 413References 41413 The new challenge – sustainable production in a changing environment 417Peter J. Gregory and Stephen Nortcliff13.1 Introduction 41713.2 Human-induced environmental change 41813.3 Food security and food production 42613.4 Routes to sustainable intensification 434References 442Index 449